Device for joining thread ends



' Oct. 10, 1967 H. GEMEINHARDT ETAL 3,345,809

DEVICE FOR JOINING THREAD ENDS Filed July 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FIG.

2| I7 25 l2 I3 20 23 A; f 3| H 7 6 I4 I 1 I 7 J/ I5 IO 9 4 INVENTORS:HERMANN GEMEINHARDT RICHARD MUNZER waif ATT'YS 1967 H. GEMEINHARDT ETAL3,345,809

DEVICE FOR JOINING THREAD ENDS Filed July 28, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTORS:

HERMANN GEMEINHARDT RICHARD MUNZER ma ay qw w,wm

ATT'YS United States Patent 3,345,809 DEVICE FOR JOINING THREAD ENDSHermann Gemeinhardt, Elsenfeld, and Richard Miinzner,

Obernburg, Germany, assignors .to Vereinigte Glanzstotf-Fabriken AG.,Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany Filed July 28, 1966, Ser. No. 568,654Claims priority, application Germany, July 29, 1965, V 17,869; Sept. 17,1965, V 29,347 4 Claims. (Cl. 57-.22)

The present invention relates to a device for the knotless joining ofthread ends, said device being operated with compressed gas andincluding a resonance surface opposite a gas nozzle.

During the manufacturing and processing of threads and yarns it isunavoidable that the length of the threads and yarns will vary so thateither considerable scrap results or the thread ends must be joined byknots. The presence of knots is not desirable, however, because veryoften they cannot appear in the end product. A forty meter mountain ropewith a knot, for example, likely cannot be sold and is substantiallyworthless. As a further example, flat textile goods in woven form canonly have knots on the reverse side.

Attempts to join thread ends by bonding has proved unsuccessful largelybecause such joints introduce other problems. Wide, hard spots resultwhich create problems during processing, for example, during threading,in the same manner as knots. Such wide, hard spots also do not take atwist and do not shrink.

Devices are presently known for the manufacture of so-called tangledyarns. These devices consist mainly of a compressed gas nozzle and aresonance surface opposite the nozzle month. These devices have alsobeen used to connect yarn ends. The two yarn ends are laid side by sidein a thread guide and held undera slight preselected tension. Air isthen blown onto the threads for a short time to produce the connection.However, since these devices were primarily designed in the manufactureof tangled yarns, they are not adequately equipped for the joining ofyarn ends. Consequently, the production of such joints was timeconsuming and inconvenient and often not possible at all because thedevices are solidly mounted and are difiicult to work on. Likewise,these machines lacked a positive clamping of the thread ends which isrequired to assure a satisfactory joint.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for joiningthread ends which avoids the difficulties outlined above.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for joiningthread ends which can be easily transported and which operates in adependable manner.

Other objects will become known to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description of the invention.

In general, the subject invention involves the discovery of a devicewhich can be used to join thread ends by twisting with the help of a gasstream. The success of the device flowed from the discovery of anarrangement wherein a piston operating against a spring is arrangedbetween a gas pressure valve and a generally known air nozzle, whichnozzle is located opposite a resonance surface. The piston lies within acylinder which is preferably set up parallel to the air nozzle axis. Thedistance between the air nozzle and the resonance surface is adjustablebecause both parts can be shifted in either direction along a commonaxis. The piston acts upon clamping means which include two U-shapedenclosures or covers which limit the air zone. The clamping devicefeatures clamping points lined by an elastic material at the level ofnotched guides of lateral covering sheets for the air zone, which guidessupport the two thread ends. The dimen- 3,345,809 Patented Oct. 10, 1967sions of the piston and spring are selected in such a way that first ofall the clamping becomes effective and then the effective air pressurebuilds up. Due to the lining with the elastic material, the secureholding of the thread ends is guaranteed.

The invention can best be understood by reference to the attacheddrawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a device of the invention which is inthe form of a pistol; and

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device with some parts cut away toshow underlying mechanisms.

In the figures, compressed gas line 2 is shown screwed into insert 33 inhandle or base portion of device 1. Valve 3 which operates againstspring 4 blocks air channel 6 which leads from gas line 2 to air nozzle17. Air channel 6 is opened by pressing against trigger or button 5;Piston 7 acting against spring 8 is mounted in cylinder 34 below airnozzle 17, said piston acting upon shaft 10 via piston rod 9 in themanner described more fully below.

In the upper portion of the device, nozzle 17 and resonance surface 18are mounted in two coaxial bores in the housing of the device. Cut-outor relief 31 lies between the nozzle and the resonance surface. Thenozzle and the resonance surface are held in place by set screws 23 and25. The nozzle itself consists of a cylindrical body which is slidablymounted within one of said bores. Bore 20 of the nozzle and the extendedopening 19 into said bore permits the entry of air from channel 6 atevery longitudinal position at which the nozzle might be placed foradjustment purposes. The nozzle opening or muzzle is identified bynumeral 21. The resonance surface 18 is of well known construction andis mounted on cylindrical insert 24 which, in turn, is .movably mountedwithin device 1. The insert and the resonance surface can be fixed inplace by means of set screw 25.

Covers or side panels 28 which can be constructed of sheet metal aremounted at both sides of cut-out or relief 31. These covers includescores or notched guides 32 which serve as support for the thread endsto be joined. Two side panels 11 and 12 are connected by means of upperplates or panels 29 and 30 to form U-shaped enclosures or covers. Thesecovers are rotatably mounted on shafts 13 and 14. A pin 15 can beinserted into both side panels 12 of one cover 12-30 which pins gearinto a corresponding slot in the panel parts 11 of the second cover orenclosure 11-29 to provide a coacting movement between the two parts.The two covers 11-29 and 12-30 are adjusted so that when swung together,scores or guide notches 32 line up with the thread contact points ofpanels 11 and 12, preferably in the center of cut-outer relief 31. Thecoaction between the two covers 11-29 and 12-30 present can be producedin another manner such as through the use of a cam or meshing gears.

The two panels 11 are extended to shaft 10 which is mounted incorresponding bores of the side panels 11. In the design shown in thedrawing, side panels 11 and 12 include semicircular openings at theheight of the notched guides 32. Inserts 16 consisting of rubber orsimilar material are placed in said semicircular cut-outs. Inserts 16clamp to thread ends in such a manner that a line through the base ofthe two notched guides 32 runs through the center of the contact surfaceof the insert.

As was pointed out above, the coacting movement between the covers toform one unit may be accomplished by any one of many methods. Likewise,the principle of the invention remains the same regardless of whetherside panels 11 or side panels 12 are engaged with shaft 10. If shaft 10engages side panels 12 the operating direction of piston 7 is reversed.

In operation, after nozzle 17 and resonance surface 18 have beenadjusted in a known manner such that the introduction of the compressedair has the desired effect of twisting and joining the thread ends, thedevice is ready for operation. When trigger or button is pressed, thepassage for the gas from line 2 to nozzle 20 is opened. Simultaneously,piston 7 is acted upon by the compressed air and is moved in cylinder 34against the force of spring 8;, The movement of piston 7 causes covers11-29 and 12 -30 to move together. This assures a positive clamping ofthe thread ends and also closes off the blow zone to the outside.

It has been shown that a slight delay between the start of movement ofpiston 7 and the build-up of the required pressure in the air nozzle issufficient to clamp the threads securely before they are hit by the aircoming from opening 21. This results if the piston area and the springforce are properly balanced prior to the operation of the device. It isrequired that the clamping action of covers 11-29 and 12 -30 beinitiated slightly before the pressure build-up is completed if thedevice is to operate in a dependable manner.

It has been found to be necessary to dimension piston 7 .Or rathercylinder 3.4 and spring 8 so that a secure clamping is already obtainedat a gas pressure of from to /3, or preferably to A of the workingpressure that builds up in nozzzle chamber 20. In addition, thecross-section of valve 3 and passage 6 should allow a full function ofthe nozzle but, on the other hand, be tight enough to prevent a rapidpressure build-up behind the valve. The smaller the necessary pressurefor the actuation of the clamping device in relation to the workingpressure of the nozzle, the less critical is the cross-section of valve3 and passage 6. The working pressure of the blow nozzle preferably liesbetween 1.5 and 10, and more preferably between 2.5 and 6 kg./cm. aboveatmospheric pressure. 1 The present device can be used with successwhere thread material of one kind is wound into another kind, forinstance, for spool and twine machines, the manufacture of weft bobbins,etc., and also for the processing of thread on weaving and knittingmachin%. The device can be mounted in place or can be hand-carried. Ahandcarried device of the present invention is of advantage for spooland twine machines. In other cases such as in the manufacture of weftbobbins, etc., it may be of advantage to install a device according tothe present invention as a fixed part of the machine. A device accordingto this invention can especially be used to advantage where stationaryknot devices or automatic knot tying devices were previously in use. Athread joint as produced by a device according to this invention has thesame characteristics as the thread material itself and does not requirespecial attention in processing. It is now possible to produce thread ofany length.

A stationary device according to this invention can be used for anautomated joinings of threads. The ends that have to be joined can, forexample, be held by claws as known on the automatic knot tying machinesand be laid into the device according to this invention. A correspondingelectrical circuit which, for example, can be actuated by the claws canbe initiated by a limit switch.

Joints produced by a device according to this invention feature the sametensile strength as the yarn itself. The thicker thread portion ishardly noticeable and runs through all devices like thread guides,knitting needle eyes, etc., without any problems. Of special importanceis the fact that the joints are not noticeable in texturing processingsuch as upsetting, etc., and cannot be noticed after a dyeing process.

Valve 3 shown in the drawing can be actuated by a foot pedal if acorresponding lever or pull connection is used. This can be of advantagewhen a rigidly mounted device according to this invention is used, orthis can be accomplished by the actuation of a limit switch by theholding device when an automatic holding device for the thread ends isemployed. The switch contact duration can be made adjustable by the useof a time relay. This can control the duration of the device and thefollowing release of the connected thread. An automatic holding devicelike the one already known for the automatic knot tying machines canalso be employed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A device for the knotless connection of thread ends which comprises:a housing for said device; conveying means for conveying gas underpressure to said device; an air nozzle within said device; a resonatingsurface opposite said nozzle; a valve mounted within said device forcontrolling the flow of air to said nozzle; a piston acting against aspring and a piston rod mounted within a cylinder, said cylinder beingconnected to said conveying means at a point between said valve and saidnozzle; thread holding means operatively associated with said piston andpiston rod; and control means for actuating said thread holding meansprior to the build-up of working pressure in said nozzle.

2 A device as in claim 1 wherein said thread holding means is in theform of two U-shaped covers, which covers close off the area between theopening of said nozzle and said resonating surface when said holdingmeans is actuated.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein the dimensions of said spring and saidpiston are such that a secure clamping occurs at a gas pressure of /20to /3 of the working pressure that builds up in the nozzle.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein the dimensions of said spring and saidpiston are such that a secure clamping occurs at a gas pressure of /8 toA of the working pressure that builds up in the nozzle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,279,299 4/1942 Cavanagh 5722 X2,449,349 9/ 1948 Waugh et al. 57-22 X 3,012,398 12/1961 Merkle 571593,070,947 1/1963 Toledo et al 5722 3,273,330 9/1966 Gonsalves 5722 X3,306,029 2/1967 Rosenstein 57-22 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,345,809 October 10, 1967 HermannGemeinhardt et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 4, line 56, for "3,306,029" read 3,306,020

Signed and sealed this 11th day of February 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer

1. A DEVICE FOR THE KNOTLESS CONNECTION OF THREAD ENDS WHICH COMPRISES:A HOUSING FOR SAID DEVICE; CONVEYING MEANS FOR CONVEYING GAS UNDERPRESSURE TO SAID DEVICE; AN AIR NOZZLE WITHIN SAID DEVICE; A RESONATINGSURFACE OPPOSITE SAID NOZZLE; A VALVE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID DEVICE FORCONTROLLING THE FLOW OF AIR TO SAID NOZZLE; A PISTON ACTING AGAINST ASPRING AND A PISTON ROD MOUNTED WITHIN A CYLINDER, SAID CYLINDER BEINGCONNECTED TO SAID CONVEYING MEANS AT A POINT BETWEEN SAID VALVE AND SAIDNOZZLE; THREAD HOLDING MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PISTON ANDPISTON ROD; AND CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID THREAD HOLDING MEANSPRIOR TO THE BUILD-UP OF WORKING PRESSURE IN SAID NOZZLE.